Watersports Guide for Avoriaz

During the summer months, you can hire a canoe, pedalo, kayak or stand-up paddleboard at Lac Montriond. You can easily spend the day there splashing in the rock pools, having a picnic and walking around the shores.

Not so gentle but extremely refreshing summer activity is one way to describe canyoning! Plunge yourself into the mountain streams via a series of abseil descents, jumps and natural water slides – just make sure you choose a warm day. You will make your way along rivers and rapids, using the river bed as a natural obstacle course. Not suitable for very young children but anyone over the age of about eight can take the (very cold) plunge and try canyoning. With the safety of a guide, everyone can abseil down cascades, splash into pools and ride the river rapids. 

You can choose from short beginners’ routes, such as the one in Balme (Cluses) or longer ones for the more adventurous like the route down in Nyon (Morzine) which is not suitable for children under 12.

Hydrospeeding is one of the newer extreme watersports to hit the market. It's a fun and exhilarating way to get yourself down a river using a large float, which bears a resemblance to a bodyboard. Be ready to cling on for dear life as you send yourself hurtling down the rapids! This activity is a little more demanding physically than rafting or canoe rafting, but allows you to discover the unique sensation of surfing down white water rivers. It is also accessible to all, no need to be a professional diver or swimmer, you just have to be smart at using the water movements, obstacles and waves. In Avoriaz, anyone over seven years old can descend the Dranse river on a board wearing thick neoprene and fins.

White water rafting

If you haven't experienced white water rafting before then this is a definite 'must try' on your list of activities to do! From the middle of May until September, the Dranse river flows furiously as it is fed from the meltwaters running off the glaciers high above the town. There are various options available from a three-hour adrenaline rush to a full days excursion - this activity is guaranteed not to disappoint.

Make a splash at one of the local waterparks in Avoriaz. Aquariaz in Avoriaz is a tropical-themed indoor waterpark with a river, slides, play zones and climbing walls. In Morzine, the Parc des Dérêches has indoor and outdoor pools, a waterslide and family-friendly facilities. For even more fun, head to Les Gets where the Wibit inflatable waterpark on the lake is packed with obstacles, trampolines and slides for ages six and up.